At times, we tend to forget quickly about NFL players. It’s now widely accepted that Jordan Love is the chosen one in Green Bay. He’s seen as the potential third consecutive franchise quarterback for the Packers, following in the footsteps of Brett Favre.
This leads to a real question: Should he have taken a firmer stance last year, making the Packers decide whether to extend his contract or let him enter a contract year?
But there’s another angle to consider. If Love hadn’t agreed to a deal that guaranteed him two years with the Packers, they might not have opted to extend his contract for a fifth year (according to a source). Plus, the team’s record was 2-5 after seven games.
When General Manager Brian Gutekunst was asked if they needed more than the rest of the 2023 season to determine Love’s future as a starter, he put Love on alert. “I hope not,” Gutekunst said at the time. “We have 10 games left. It’s going to be a very important 10 games.”
Without the contract Love had negotiated, would he have even played those 10 games? Would they have given another player a chance? Would they have started planning for the future without Love?
Even if the Packers were quietly exploring other options for 2024, the contract ensured that Love (according to reports) remained focused on his current role. This stability was crucial for Love’s resurgence, which helped the Packers advance to the divisional round.
They finished the season strong with a 7-3 record in their last ten games. They had a big win against the Cowboys in the wild-card game but narrowly lost to the 49ers in the next round. It almost set up a game between the Packers and the Lions for a spot in the Super Bowl.
It could have been the Packers facing off against the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, right after Aaron Rodgers left the team.
Looking back, the turning point came after they lost to the Steelers and dropped to 3-6. They won three crucial games after that: against the Chargers, the Chiefs, and on Thanksgiving against the Lions.
If those games had gone the other way, the Packers would have been 3-9, likely ending their season and maybe even Love’s career with the team.
The point is, without the security of his two-year deal, Love might have struggled to block out distractions and turn things around. The season could have gone downhill, and he might have been looking for a new opportunity elsewhere.
But now, he’s established himself as the main man in Green Bay. And he’s set to receive a good paycheck this year. It’s just a matter of time. Plus, unlike other teams, there’s no big-money owner in Green Bay, so there’s less pressure to make extra cash for lavish purchases.
